PULLMAN, Wash. -
As the summer collegiate baseball season came to a close earlier this month, several Cougar players came away with postseason honors.

WSU junior first baseman Jim Murphy had a big summer, being named the New England Collegiate Baseball League MVP. Murphy, who helped the Newport Gulls to a 32-10 regular-season record and a spot in the divisional championship series, led the league in several offensive categories, including hitting (.358), slugging percentage (.635), on-base percentage (.458), RBIs (40), total bases (94) and hit by pitch (.12). He was also second in home runs (9) and third in doubles (14).

Murphy's teammate at Newport and WSU, senior Jeff Miller, also had a strong summer. Miller hit .302 with six doubles, three home runs and 21 RBIs, including a home run in Newport's 7-1 victory over Manchester in the Divisional Championship Series.

A little closer to home, junior pitcher Ross Humes had an equally impressive summer, being named the West Coast Collegiate Baseball League Pitcher of the Year. Humes, who played for the 24-18 Kitsap BlueJackets, posted a 5-0 record with a 1.76 ERA while leading the league in innings pitched with 71 2/3. Additionally, Humes was second in strikeouts (64) while also being named to the WCCBL first team.

Sophomore Jared Prince, who spent the first part of the summer with USA Baseball, All-WCCBL honorable mention honors after hitting .308 for the Aloha Knights. A freshman All-American last season, Prince was named to the WCCBL All-Performance team after his .308 average was tops among all designated hitters.

Prince's teammate on the Knights, junior Zach Borba, begins his first season at WSU this fall after transferring from UNLV. Borba hit .237 for Aloha, collecting seven doubles, two triples and tying for the team lead with 20 RBIs in 42 games. He joined Prince on the All-WCCBL honorable mention team.

Sophomore Travis Coulter spent his summer as part of the Mat-Su miners in the Alaska Baseball League, where he was named to the All-ABL first team. Coulter hit .287 with three doubles, 18 runs scored and 17 RBIs in 34 games.

Junior Scott Suttmeier helped the Edenton Steamers of the Coastal Plains League to a 35-16 record. In mid-July Suttmeier was named Player of the Week after hitting .545 in six games for the Steamers, featuring a .727 slugging percentage to go along with eight total bags, three walks and a .688 on-base percentage. Suttmeier finished the season hitting .297 in 42 games, with five doubles, one home run,12 RBIs and 26 runs scored.